RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1891-6, f. 43.Date stamped: Royal Gardens Kew 8. Feb. 93, and annotated in pencil by W. Watson: 51/1893 (i.e, register number in Kew Inwards Book of specimens received); and in blue pencil by W. Thiselton-Dye:r Bulletin. This letter, lightly edited, is quoted extensively in the Bulletin of miscellaneous information, 1893, p. 112 (B93.05.04). A. R . Wallace had noted in The Garden that probably no attempt has been made to obtain plants from the cold uplands of Australia. ‘Acting on this hint, a copy of Mr. Wallace’s paper was forwarded to Sir F. von Mueller in Melbourne, to whom we are indebted for a very large proportion of the living representatives of the Australian flora now at Kew, and whose zeal is shown by the following letter which accompanied a box containing two plants both likely to live’. (Forwarding letter not found.)

JDH explains why he considers Dr [James William Helenus] Trail a suitable candidate for fellowship of the Royal Society. It was JDH who recommended that Trail go on the expedition up the Amazon 12 years previously & Trail made the most of the opportunity for scientific purposes making excellent collections & observations, especially papers on the palms of the Amazon published in [Henry] Trimen's journal of botany in 1876 & work on Amazon ant-housing plants. He has also published further papers, catalogued in the Royal Society Compilations & is producing more. Trail is also a productive teacher of biological science & his students have often proved excellent members of expeditions. JDH intends to add his signature to Trail's paper of qualifications.